New Delhi : It was a day of regrets for the BJP. after controversially suggesting that foreigners visiting India should avoid wearing skirts or going out alone at night, Union Minister Mahesh Sharma clarified on Monday that he was referring only to religious places, and that he had spoken out of “concern”. He also described his comments as “advisory in nature.”
Talking to reporters on Sunday in Agra, he had said, “For their own safety, women foreign tourists should not wear short dresses and skirts… Indian culture is different from the western (culture).”
The remarks evoked a sharp reaction with Congress leader Manish Tiwari terming them as “most uncultured remarks” and Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal saying that the comments reveal a very “horrible and pathetic mindset”. Clarifying his remarks, Sharma said, “It is country with different cultures, different eating habits and different dressing sense, which changes every 100 km. We have a tradition
(of saying) Atithi Devobhava (the guest is almost like God). Such a ban is unimaginable. I meant this to be an advisory, especially when one is going to religious places. Like when we go to a gurudwara, we cover our heads, when we go to a temple, we remove our shoes,” Sharma pointed out.
“I am a father of (two) daughters. I have not said what one person should wear or not wear; neither is it desirable nor I am authorised to say so. I have only said this as an advice for those visiting religious place,” he added.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lost no time in taking a dig at Sharma, saying “Women had greater freedom to wear clothes of their choice in the Vedic times than they have in Modi times.”
Despite his attempts at an explanation, Sharma didn’t escape the expected storm on Twitter, where he was trending on Monday morning. Sharma, no stranger to controversy, had said last year that it was not acceptable for girls wanting to have a night out in India.
Hitting out at Sharma, the Congress on Monday asserted that if he had his way, then every woman in the country would be wearing a burqa. Asserting that the Culture Minister, at times, comes out with the most ‘uncultured’ remarks possible, Congress leader Manish Tewari told ANI that India celebrates its diversity and also respects the traditions and conservatism which is an intrinsic part of our society.
“India also gives everybody the liberty to be permissive, modern, extremely liberal in their habits, disposition and even in the clothes that they wear. So therefore this diversity of culture is something that the Culture Minister should recognise. But as I said that if ‘Pandit’ Mahesh Sharma has his way, he will put every woman in this country in a burqa,” Tewari said.
